Identification of oviposition deterrents from pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella(Saunders)

Aim: The present study was carried out to identify and explore novel areas of semiochemical based pest management like oviposition deterrents.Methodology: The oviposition deterrents were identified from larval faecal pellets of pink bollworm using methanol as solvent and analysed in GC-MS. Three fatty acids were identified and evaluated for oviposition deterrent effect. Results: In the present study, three major compounds namely; oleic, linoleic and palmitic acids were identified for the first time from larval faecal pellets of pink bollworm. Their oviposition deterrent effect was confirmed in bioassays carried out with different concentrations of identified compounds. The avoidance index (Ai) 0.78 ± 0.05 and per cent effective deterrency (PED) 87.42% was recorded in oleic acid at highest concentration followed by linoleic acid (Ai: 0.77 ± 0.03; PED: 86.61%) in reducing the egg laying by conspecific female. This clearly showed the role of these compounds as oviposition deterrent. Interpretation: The compounds, oleic and linoleic acids evaluated in laboratory showed oviposition deterrent effect on female pink bollworm reducing egg laying considerably. However, further field studies need to be conducted to validate these observations.

Prevalence and Clinical Features of Arterial Hypertension in Ruhengeri District Hospital; Musanze; Rwanda

The prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) varies among countries and within sub-classes of a country. It has been estimated that hypertension accounts for 6 deaths worldwide. Though it is said to be a disease of developed countries; its prevalence is not lower in under-developed countries. Hypertension is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease that can; if untreated; result in serious morbidity and mortality from cardiac; cerebrovascular; vascular; and renal diseases [1]. Optimal control of diabetes and hypertension is needed to prevent development of heart failure [2]. Rwanda is one of the most densely populated (344 persons/Sq. km; 2006) [3] under-developed countries in Eastern Africa. This study was undertaken to study the prevalence of hypertension and its clinical presentations; comorbidities and prognosis in the department of internal medicine of the Ruhengeri district hospital. It was a retrospective study in which records of hospitalized patients for the period of January to June 2008 were studied. Data of patients were collected and analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 11.5 and Epidata. Total number of patients with hypertension was 57 which were 2.53.Hypertension was more common in women (64.9); than men (35.1). The majority of patients had more than 50 years of age (64.9). The most Common symptom was headache (47.4); followed by dizziness (36.8); palpitations (28.1) and visual disturbances (19.3); epistaxis (5); miscellaneous symptoms like loss of consciousness; tinnitus; e.t.c. (59.6). The majority of patients had severe hypertension (47.4) and patients over 50 years of age had the highest prevalence of severe hypertension (67). Alcohol consumption; diabetes mellitus; congestive heart failure had significant association with hypertension. Among the patients studied; 5.26 died during the period of study. The Study revealed that the hypertension prevalence and severity of its effect were more for the patients above 50 years of age; and women were more affected as compared to men. Headache was the most common symptom among patients with hypertension

Immunoprofile of Hodgkin's lymphoma in India.

Aims and Background: The immunoprofile of the Reed Sternberg cell with respect to immunoreactivity for CD20 and lack of CD15 has been described as a poor prognostic factor. Large scale studies analyzing the immunoprofile of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) from India are lacking. The aim of this study was to obtain baseline information on relative frequencies and immunoprofiles of the two major types of HL and comparing reports from developed and developing countries. Materials and Methods: 451 cases of HL were classified as per the WHO into classical (n= 397) HL (cHL) and nodular lymphocyte predominant HL (NLPHL) (n=54). Cases of cHL were divided into 5 immunophenotypic groups; Group A (CD15+,CD30+,CD20-), Group B (CD15-,CD30+,CD20-), Group C (CD15+,CD30+,CD20+), Group D (CD15-,CD30+,CD20+)and Group E (CD15-,CD30-,CD20+). In cases of NLPHL, the immunophenotype of lymphocytes in the background, whether T(CD3) or B(CD20) rich was observed. Results: Most cases of cHL belonged to Group A (44.58%) followed by Group B (40.05%), C(5.54%), D(9.57%) and E(0.25%). Half, (50.89%) the cases of cHL were immunonegative for CD15, whereas CD20 was expressed by 15.61% of the cases. Three (5.55%) cases of NLPHL showed a CD3 (T) cell rich background. Significant differences were also observed with respect to the age distribution of cHL as compared to the west. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that India has a high number of CD15 negative and a relatively higher number of CD20 positive cHL cases as compared to the western population. Favorable treatment response and good cure rates that one sees in western cHL may not apply to India.

Breathing comfort associated with different modes of ventilation: a comparative study in non-intubated healthy Nepalese volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: To compare subjective experience of comfort associated with various commonly used supportive modes of mechanical ventilation for weaning in the intensive care unit (ICU). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was carried out in general ICU of a community-based teaching hospital in 30 healthy adult Nepalese volunteers of either sex and 19-37 years of age. The subjects were randomly made to experience breathing via anatomical facemask through ventilator circuit with synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV), assisted spontaneous breathing (ASB), biphasic positive airway pressure (BiPAP), and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) modes of ventilation with parameters set at intermediate level of respiratory support. Subjective comfort of breathing was noted using a 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS) with no discomfort at one end and maximum imaginable discomfort at the other. Inspiratory and expiratory experience of discomfort was also noted using a four point ranking scale (0-no discomfort, 1-mild discomfort, 2-moderate discomfort and 3-severe discomfort). In addition, presence or absence of feeling of breathlessness and inflation was also noted. RESULTS: BiPAP was the most comfortable mode of ventilation (p<0.01) on visual analogue scale. SIMV and CPAP modes were associated with higher discomfort than other modes during inspiratory and expiratory phases respectively. Breathlessness and inflation were least felt in BiPAP and SIMV modes respectively. CONCLUSION: Perception of breathing comfort can vary widely with various supportive modes of ventilation in the ICU. Hence, no single supportive mode should be used in all patients during weaning from mechanical ventilation. Key words: assisted spontaneous breathing; biphasic positive airway pressure; breathing comfort; continuous positive airway pressure; mechanical ventilation; supportive modes synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation; weaning.

Percutaneous tracheostomy.

The purpose of this review is to discuss the various techniques of percutaneous tracheostomy and to assess their safety and efficacy profile, indications and contraindications, early and late complications. Literature was reviewed from Medline and MD Consult databases. Early techniques by Sheldon, toye and Schachner have been abandoned due to their high complication rates. Percutaneous dilational tracheostomy using the Ciaglia kit (Wiliam Cook Europe Bjaeverskov) and a Griggs kit (Portex PDT kit, POrtex, Hythe, Kent, UK) has been used most often. Griggs guide Wire Dilator Forceps kit (SIMS, Portex, Hythe, Kent, UK) is the next most common in use but its long-term studies are few. Fantoni (TLT set, Mallinckrodt Medical) and PercuTwist device (Riisch, Kernen, Germany) are two new techniques currently under study. Percutaneous dilational tracheostomy and conventional surgical tracheostomy are still competing methods to provide an airway for intensive care patient requiring assisted ventilation. Review of literature shows that percutaneous tracheostomy is safe, cost-effective and compares favourably with the open surgical tracheostomy. Many intensive care units now use the percutaneous tracheostomy as a procedure of choice. Percutaneous tracheostomy has a learning curve and requires appropriate case selection and meticulous attention to the technique by all those who want to use this method.

Anti-C1q antibody as a marker of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The present study was conducted to examine the usefulness of anti-C1q antibody as a marker of disease activity in Indian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We standardized the assay for detection of IgG anti-C1q antibody using ELISA. The normal cut-off level was determined by testing 57 healthy, age and sex matched controls to be 53 units/m1 (mean +/- 2 SD). Patients with SEL (97 females and 13 males) were studied and the following parameters were obtained on all: SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), anti-C1q, anti-ds DNA and C3. Correlations were tested between these parameters using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. Anti-C1q was found positive in 66 (60%) patients while anti-ds DNA was found in 78 (71%). The positive predictive values of anti-C1q and anti-ds DNA for lupus nephritis were 59 and 61 per cent respectively. The titres of anti-C1q correlated positively with SLEDAI (P < 0.01) and anti-ds DNA (P < 0.01) and negatively with C3 levels (P < 0.001). No significant correlation was observed between anti-C1q positivity and any particular organ involvement. Similarly, no correlation was found between anti-C1q and proliferative lupus nephritis. Anti-C1q was found positive in 5 of 9 patients with moderate SLEDAI scores and negative for anti-ds DNA antibody. It is concluded that anti-C1q antibody can serve as a general marker for lupus activity, supplementing the currently used serum markers.

Renal involvement in leprosy.

Renal involvement was studied in 70 patients with leprosy by urine analysis, detailed biochemical investigations and renal histopathology. Of these 70 patients, 40 had lepromatous and 30 had non-lepromatous leprosy. Creatinine clearance was reduced in 20 patients. Renal biopsies were studied in 50 cases (25 lepromatous, 25 non-lepromatous); of which in 13 cases (10 lepromatous, 3 non-lepromatous) abnormal histopathological lesions were found by light microscopy. Amyloidosis was seen in only one lepromatous patient. No acid-fast bacilli and leproma like lesion were demonstrated in any case.